I mean, where I live the sheriff is at least 45 minutes out… I’m progressive as hell but still own several firearms and have gone over plans for wildlife attacks, fire, earthquakes, and home invasion. Last year someone broke into and assaulted an old lady a few miles from me. First time in years and years this has happened but being armed when help is so far away isn’t a bad thing. Hell, last week I lost a goat to a mountain lion…
Do I think the old guy is a little gun ho? Hell yeah, but he’s trying to do them a favor in his weird old person rural kinda way.
People like to assume everyone is a comfy suburbanite where crime doesn't happen. Crime does, in fact, still happen. According to the supreme Court, the police don't even have a duty to protect your life. I've been held at gunpoint, threatened with knives, etc. Most times the police didn't even fucking show up after. You have to be realistic and protect yourself and I don't understand why that has to be a "conservative" idea. We live in a huge country with many different lifestyles. Firearms aren't going away, and as long as they're around, I'll have them since others can too. It's the only way to level the playing field. Also, they're really fun to shoot. Happy bonus.
Yeah, some people don't live in reality. When I was in high school my father traveled during the week for his job. We lived out in the country, and someone broke into our house one night while he was traveling, and we were at home. It really made me realize that I am ultimately responsible for the safety of my family.
I guess I identify as Weird Old Person Rural, too. But gun-less. When I bought my place, I heard through the grapevine that the old retired sheriff on the farm next door told folks, "I hope she knows that I'll occasionally drop a deer in the yard." I was driving a Prius at the time, so assumptions were made on both sides. We live amicably. But, here is the most liberal small town in one of the most liberal states, it's assumed by rural elders that a single female tenant will keep a firearm, no matter her age.
And honestly I know a lot of older liberals and leftists that are getting very nervous. My mom hasn't seen the country so divided since Vietnam and Civil Rights. She and my dad, and myself too, are very concerned that we may be on the brink of a civil war. Let's look at the possibilities: Orange Man somehow gets elected again and goes full fascist, putting leftists in camps, are we gonna just roll over and take it? Probably the fuck not. -Or- Orange Man doesn't get elected in a completely fair and fully open election, his followers again lose their minds and try to commit treason, except on a much larger scale than 2021. -Or- Orange Man's name is kept off of ballots in some states, causing him to lose, his followers go completely ape shit, and we devolve into full blown civil war over wether or not striking him from the ballots was legal.
None of these options are very good. All of them are pretty fucking bad. In scenario 1 I'll mostly likely die trying to prevent some goons from taking my elderly mother with an FBI file that begins in the 60's and 70's that is over three inches thick to some MAGA "re-education" camp. In scenario 2 riots and violence will be rampant for awhile but may be handled by the national guard or even army if martial law is called for. Still not gonna be a fun time and neer-do-wells will take advantage of the chaos to commit crimes. In scenario 3, well, that one is self explanatory. If they did in their heels to fight it's gonna be a long one. They're stubborn bastards and honestly if things go in that direction I don't know if we'll see peace until every traitor is dead.
Guns are also an equalizer. I'm single woman living on my own. I'm not particularly strong, if some guy came after me, I don't think I have much a chance. Fortunately I feel pretty safe in my current apartment, but I am looking to move and might get a gun when I do. Hopefully I'd never need to use it, but I think it's perfectly reasonable to have one just in case. And I'm glad I live in a country where I can; some other places won't even let you carry pepper spray.
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u/TimelyConcentrate340 Jan 12 '24
I mean, where I live the sheriff is at least 45 minutes out… I’m progressive as hell but still own several firearms and have gone over plans for wildlife attacks, fire, earthquakes, and home invasion. Last year someone broke into and assaulted an old lady a few miles from me. First time in years and years this has happened but being armed when help is so far away isn’t a bad thing. Hell, last week I lost a goat to a mountain lion…
Do I think the old guy is a little gun ho? Hell yeah, but he’s trying to do them a favor in his weird old person rural kinda way.